Hearts

For anyone looking for a hand-made Valentine’s Day gift idea? These little hearts make a perfect topper for a box of chocolates, or a little handful of them will make your sweetie smile.
You’ll need:
Rowan 4-ply Scottish Tweed (or any wool yarn that will felt)
size 4 straight knitting needles (or sized to your yarn)
tapestry needle
polyfil or scrap yarn for stuffing
embroidery thread or small beads for eyes

Abbreviations:
CO = cast on
BO = bind off
st = stitch
k = knit
p = purl
kfb = knit into front and back of stitch (to make 2 stitches where there was 1)
k2tog = knit 2 stitches together
p2tog = purl 2 stitches together
rep = repeat

Pattern starts here!
CO 2 st
row 1: kfb, k to last st, kfb
row 2: p 1 row
rep these 2 rows 6 times total (14 st)

row 3: k2 tog, k5 and turn, leaving remaining 7 st on the needle
row 4: p2tog, p2, p2tog
BO 4 st, cut a long piece of yarn (about 10″) and thread through back of piece to reattach to other side (where you left off when turning)
row 5: k5, k2tog
row 6: p2tog, p2, p2tog
BO 4 st

Repeat the above pattern for opposite side of heart.

Weave in loose ends and felt pieces in a washer and dryer.

Add eyes after felting, either with a few small stitches with embroidery thread (pictured), or by sewing on small beads. With wrong sides facing each other, sew up the two heart pieces using mattress stitch, and stuff with polyfil before making the last few stitches.

Sew in that last loose end, and you’re done.

Happy Valentine’s!